Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 9th Feb. UN and partners with the Federal and State authorities in Somalia on Wednesday announced that relief agencies are seeking $2.6 billion to assist some 7.6 million people in Somalia this year.
Somalia has faced the longest and most severe drought in its history, after five consecutive poor rainy seasons, which has devastated the country.
Over 8.25 million people half the population, require immediate lifesaving aid and protection.
They warned that famine is a strong possibility from April to June and beyond if humanitarian assistance is not sustained and the next rainfalls are insufficient.
Adam Abdelmoula, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia said “The efforts of local communities and the scale up of humanitarian assistance prevented famine thresholds from being surpassed in 2022, but millions of lives remain on the line,”
The drought is affecting parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, is the worst in four decades.
According to OCHA, the Horn of Africa has become hotter and drier due to climate change and 36.4 million people across the region need emergency assistance to survive.
In Somalia, 1.4 million people have been displaced while 3.5 million livestock have died, destroying livelihoods and reducing children’s access to milk.
Salah Jama, Deputy Prime Minister in the Federal Government said “The people of Somalia are paying the price for a climate emergency they did very little to create.”
OCHA said the situation in Somalia is extremely alarming as prolonged and extreme conditions have led to higher-than-normal deaths.
It said reduction in funding for humanitarian assistance, some 8.3 million Somalis will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity between April and June.
This includes more than 727,000 who are likely to face catastrophic conditions.
Over 8 million people do not have access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services. Cholera and measles cases have surged, along with acute malnutrition, while conflict and insecurity continue to drive needs and hamper humanitarian access.
The aid organizations, local communities and government authorities ramped up response and reached 7.3 million people.
They are calling for additional resources and unhindered access to those in need.
“The Federal and State governments, local communities and the Somali private sector and diaspora are working with the international community to assist the most vulnerable people in the areas with highest needs,” said Mr. Jama.
“I urge all partners to support these lifesaving efforts.”
Relief Coordinator Adam Abdelmoula appealed for more donors to “step up and frontload their support”, warning that any delay in assistance truly is a matter of life or death.
“We must also invest in livelihoods, resilience, infrastructure development, climate adaptation and durable solutions to break the cycle of chronic and recurrent humanitarian crises in Somalia and ensure that those affected can adapt and thrive,” he said.
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